High school participation in one of the oldest modern day Olympic sports is increasing, and its popularity is on the rise as a collegiate sport.
Ieva Adams, 16, is on the crest of that wave as a student athlete at Chagrin Falls High School, participating in the sport of crew.
“When I stumbled upon rowing, it was a very pivotal time in my life,” Ieva said. “I was a freshman in high school. I was very confused about where I fit into the big picture of life, what I wanted, who I wanted to be. I feel that many kids my age struggle with this at some point in high school. I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I feel like I now have a new found direction. Rowing just fit. It lifted me up and gave me a purpose. The sport instilled goals and, in some way, realigned the path I was walking.”
Ieva discovered crew through a classmate while tagging along with her to a practice.
“She immediately was captivated and hooked and has been rowing ever since,” said Ieva’s mom, Carina Whyte.
CFHS does not have a crew team, so Ieva rows at The Foundry, a newly renovated boat house in Cleveland that houses many junior crew teams in the Cleveland area.
The Foundry’s rowing center, 1831 Columbus Road, is located at the end of Columbus Road Bridge in the Flats of downtown Cleveland and has a rich history.
It houses four teams in residence with state-of-the-art indoor rowing tanks and has the longest rowing docks in the world.
The Cleveland Foundry Juniors comprises students from schools all over Northeast Ohio. It aims to provide a competitive rowing experience to positively impact the mind, body and spirit of young athletes in the Greater Cleveland community through discipline, integrity, honesty and teamwork.
“I love being part of a team,” Ieva said. “Knowing that every stroke you take is for everyone in the shell and that everyone has to be in synchronicity. When we can achieve moving as one, stroke for stroke, gliding on the water, there is no better place to be.”
Women made their debut in the sport of rowing at the Olympic Games in 1976 in Montreal, Canada.
Her crew positions are a Sculler (using two oars) and Sweeping (using one oar).
Ieva is also one of the team captains.
The practices are 4:45-7:00 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 7:30-10:00 a.m. Saturdays, which Ieva drives to herself.
Regattas are in the fall and spring.
Ieva’s father, Bret Adams, said she has traveled to Pennsylvania, Columbus, Cincinnati and New York for various regattas.
She competed at The Head of the Charles in Boston this October. It is the largest Regatta in the world, with more than 25 national teams.
“Rowing has changed many aspects in her life,” Whyte said. “It has taught her more responsibility and that rigorous training is not only for yourself, but it is also for the team.”
Crew has also influenced the importance of good grades.
“College crew also expect this of their crew teams,” Whyte said. “She eats healthier and gets lots of rest. She has learned how important it is to take care of yourself because the sport demands this from every athlete who participates.”
Ieva has always been an athlete.
She used to play soccer, softball and basketball, but gave up all other sports for crew.
However, her dedication to academics comes first.
“I have learned to manage my time and to make school a priority,” Ieva said.
Her Economics teacher, Jim Serluco, said he always enjoys talking to Ieva about rowing.
“Having been a coach in various sports during my teaching career, I believe that Ieva has a great attitude as a student athlete,” Serluco said. “She is having fun, competing and working hard. We also talk about her future, which seems to include college and rowing.”
Ieva said she would love to row on the west coast because crew teams on the west coast can train on the water, unlike crew teams with four seasons.
“I want to be on the water 365 days if I can,” Ieva said.
She added, “I have talked to several colleges and I have no idea where I am going to attend. I am very excited to row in college and want to be the best that I can be for whatever team I will be a part of. I have some time to think about it. Right now, I am going to focus on my academics, my 2K time and my technique.”
Ieva plans to study nutrition science.
“Nutrition has been preached to me most of my life and I am grateful for that,” Ieva said. “I hope to educate and help people with their health and wellness goals.”
She said she is always telling classmates about the sport.
“Maybe that’s because I found so much happiness on the water, I wanted others to find that happiness, too,” Ieva said.
